Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has screened 105 long-distance drivers, residents and road safety VCDF Partners FRSC to Screen Drivers for Eye Conditions in Delta for eye conditions in Kwale, Delta State.
The exercise, held at the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Park in Kwale, also identified 11 cases of eye conditions, comprising three cataract and eight pterygium cases.
The outreach, which took place on Monday, August 31, was carried out by VCDF in collaboration with the FRSC RS 5.26 Kwale Unit Command as part of efforts to improve access to eye care and promote road safety among commercial and long-distance drivers.
The organisers said the screening was important because undetected or untreated vision problems could affect drivers’ ability to recognise road signs, pedestrians, vehicles and other hazards, thereby increasing the risk of road traffic crashes.
The exercise brought together FRSC officials, Red Cross volunteers, transport union leaders and community representatives, who also participated in health and road safety sensitisation.
Participants diagnosed with cataract and pterygium are expected to receive further management at the VCDF-supported Cataract Surgery Unit (CSU).
In addition, 28 eligible participants were provided with prescription glasses, while 27 received medications during the outreach.
The intervention is an extension of VCDF’s Sustainable Primary Eye Care Services (SPECS) programme, sponsored by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) since 2023.
Through the SPECS programme, VCDF has screened 1,926 people and facilitated more than 1,500 successful cataract and pterygium surgeries since 2023.
The foundation said the programme was designed to take eye-health services closer to communities and encourage early detection and treatment of eye conditions that could lead to visual impairment or blindness if left untreated.
The latest outreach also focused on raising awareness among drivers on the need to undergo regular eye examinations, particularly given the visual demands associated with long-distance driving.
According to VCDF, its integrated health programmes have reached 26,959 people since inception, while its interventions across Akwa Ibom, Delta and Lagos states have touched more than 80,683 lives.
The foundation said it would continue to work with government institutions, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to expand access to preventive and curative healthcare services in underserved communities.
The collaboration with the FRSC underscores the growing importance of integrating health interventions into road safety programmes, particularly for commercial drivers whose physical and visual fitness can directly affect the safety of other road users.